Front grille emblem for releasing a hood and filling a windshield washer fluid reservoir of a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A front grille emblem is provided for a motor vehicle. That front grille emblem includes an integral hood latch release and a windshield washer fluid receiver.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment fieldand, more particularly, to an apparatus for releasing a hood and fillinga windshield washer fluid reservoir of a motor vehicle. In oneparticularly useful embodiment that apparatus comprises a front grilleemblem for the motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Today's motor vehicles generally require an operator to open the vehiclehood in order to refill the windshield washer fluid. This involves thesteps of opening the primary hood latch utilizing a lever or buttonprovided in the motor vehicle interior, opening the auxiliary hood latchutilizing a lever at the front of the motor vehicle, finding and openingthe washer fluid reservoir in the underhood compartment, filling thewindshield washer fluid reservoir with washer fluid and then closing thehood.

This procedure involves several inconvenient and sometimes frustratingsteps. More specifically, on many vehicles the auxiliary hood releaselatch at the front of the motor vehicle is not easy to locate. On manyvehicles one must reach under the hood and run a hand along the top ofthe motor vehicle grille seeking to locate the level which is hiddenfrom view. This not only results in dirty hands but also potentialfrustration if the latch lever is not found quickly.

It is also significant to note that the engine compartment is often hotduring the windshield washer fluid refilling task as the low fluid levelis typically discovered while driving. This creates an additional levelof hazard while working under the hood to perform this task.

This document relates to a new and improved apparatus for releasing thehood and filling the windshield washer fluid reservoir of a motorvehicle. That apparatus, which may take the form of a front grilleemblem, includes an integral hood latch release and windshield washerfluid receiver that are prominently visible and very convenient and easyto utilize. In fact, the hood does not even have to be open to refillthe windshield washer reservoir. Thus, the new front grille emblemdescribed herein represents a significant advance in the art.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a frontgrille emblem is provided for a motor vehicle. That front grille emblemcomprises an integral hood latch release and windshield washer fluidreceiver. That front grille emblem is displaceable between an emblemdisplay position, a hood latch release position and a windshield washerfluid fill position.

In accordance with an additional aspect, an apparatus is provided forreleasing a hood and filling a windshield washer fluid reservoir of amotor vehicle. That apparatus comprises an integral hood releaseactuator and a windshield washer fluid receiver. In one possibleembodiment, the hood release actuator is pivotally connected to thewindshield washer fluid receiver. Further, a cap may be connected to thewindshield washer fluid receiver and displaceable between an openedposition and a closed position. A spring may be provided to bias the capto the open position. Further the apparatus may include an abutment forengaging and holding the cap in a closed position when the apparatus isin the home position. Where the apparatus includes a front grilleemblem, that home position is the front grille emblem display position.

In yet another embodiment, the windshield washer fluid receiver ispivotally connected to the motor vehicle.

In still another embodiment the windshield washer fluid receiver ispivotally connected to the motor vehicle and the hood release actuatoris pivotally connected to the windshield washer fluid receiver.

In still another embodiment, the windshield washer fluid receiver formsan inner portion of the front grille emblem and a hood release actuatorforms a perimeter portion of the front grille emblem.

In the following description, there are shown and described severalpreferred embodiments of the apparatus/front grille emblem for releasinga hood and filling a windshield washer fluid reservoir of a motorvehicle. As it should be realized, the emblem/apparatus is capable ofother, different embodiments and its several details are capable ofmodification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from theemblem/apparatus as set forth and described in the following claims.Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded asillustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIGS. 1A-1C are schematic side elevational illustrations of a firstembodiment of the apparatus/emblem in respective display, hood latchrelease and windshield washer fluid fill positions.

FIGS. 2A-2D are perspective views of the emblem embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 1A-1C illustrating the emblem in respective emblem display,hood release primed, hood release activated and windshield washer fluidfill positions.

FIGS. 3A-3C are respective schematic side elevational views of a secondembodiment of the apparatus/emblem in respective display, hood latchrelease and windshield washer fluid fill positions.

FIGS. 4A-4C are schematic side elevational views of still anotherembodiment of the apparatus/emblem in respective emblem display, hoodlatch release and windshield washer fluid fill positions.

FIGS. 5A-5C are schematic side elevational views of yet anotherembodiment of the apparatus/emblem in respective emblem display, hoodlatch release and windshield washer fluid fill positions.

FIGS. 6A-6C are perspective views of yet another embodiment of theapparatus/emblem in respective emblem display, hood latch release andwindshield washer fluid fill positions.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the apparatus/emblem, examples of which are illustratedin the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-1C and 2A-2D illustrating a firstembodiment of the apparatus 10 for releasing a hood 12 and filling awindshield washer fluid reservoir 14 of a motor vehicle. As illustrated,the apparatus 10 comprises an integral hood release actuator 16 and awindshield washer fluid receiver 18. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2A and2B, in this particular embodiment the hood release actuator 16 includesa front face forming a front grille emblem 20 displayed in the grille 22of the motor vehicle M.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the hood release actuator 16 ispivotally connected to a lug at 24 on the windshield washer fluidreservoir 14 by means of a pivot pin 26. Further, the hood releaseactuator 16 includes a lug 28 connected by means of a pin 30 forsecuring the end of a hood release actuator cable 32. The other end ofthe cable 32 is connected to the secondary hood latch 34 for releasingthe hood 12.

When one wishes to open the hood, that individual first pulls the hoodrelease lever or depresses the hood release button (not shown) insidethe interior of the motor vehicle M to release the primary hood latch.When this is done the hood release actuator 16 is displaced from thenormal or home emblem display position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2A tothe secondary hood release primed position illustrated in FIG. 2B. Nextthe individual exits the motor vehicle, walks around to the frontthereof, engages the lower edge of the hood release actuator 16 andpulls to pivot the actuator about the pivot pin 26 (note action arrow Ain FIG. 1B) until the apparatus 10 is in the hood release positionillustrated in FIGS. 1B and 2C and the hood 12 is opened.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C, the apparatus 10 also includes a cap36 pivotally connected by means of the pivot pin 38 to the windshieldwasher fluid receiver 18 and displaceable between an open positionillustrated in FIG. 1C and a closed position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and1B. As should be appreciated, a coil spring 40 may be provided to biasthe cap 36 into the open position (see FIG. 1C).

When one wishes to fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir 14 withwindshield washer fluid, one engages the top edge 44 of the hood releaseactuator 16/front grille emblem 20 and slides the windshield washerfluid receiver 18 forward in the direction of action arrow B (see FIG.1C) so as to project outwardly from the grille 22. As this is done, thecoil spring 40 opens the cap 36 so that one may pour windshield washerfluid from a jug 48 into the open top of the windshield washer fluidreceiver 18. Note FIG. 2D (cap 36 removed so as to better show thepouring of the windshield washer fluid into the receiver 18). As shouldbe appreciated, the windshield washer fluid passes through thewindshield washer fluid receiver 18 and along the line 50 to fill thewindshield washer fluid reservoir 14.

When one is done adding windshield washer fluid, one pushes theapparatus 10 from the windshield washer fluid fill position illustratedin FIGS. 1C and 2D back into the grille 22 until the apparatus is againin the emblem display position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2A. As thisis done, an abutment 52 carried on the motor vehicle behind the grille22 engages the top of the cap 36 and functions to displace the cap intoand hold the cap down in the closed position so that the seal 54 on thecap seals the windshield fluid receiver 18 closed to prevent evaporationof windshield washer fluid.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3A-3C illustrating yet another embodimentof the apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the windshield washer fluidreceiver 55 is pivotally connected to the motor vehicle by two opposedpins 56 (only one illustrated, the other is hidden) forming a trunnion.The hood release actuator 57 in this embodiment is fixed to thewindshield washer fluid receiver 55. The front face of the hood releaseactuator 57 may again form a front grille emblem 58.

When one wishes to open the hood 12, the operator pulls the primary hoodlatch lever or depresses the primary hood latch release button (notshown) in the interior of the vehicle causing the fluid receiver 55 andfixed hood release actuator 57 to pivot in the direction of actionarrows C into the hood release primed or ready position. Next, theoperator walks around to the front of the vehicle. He then engages thebottom edge 60 of the actuator 57 with his fingers and pivots the hoodrelease actuator further in the direction of action arrow C. This pullsthe cable 62 connected to the lug 64 at the rear of the fluid receiver55. The other end of that cable is connected to the secondary hood latch66 which is released allowing the hood 12 to open. When the hood 12 issubsequently closed, the apparatus 10 returns to the emblem displayposition, illustrated in FIG. 3A.

In contrast, when one wishes to replenish the windshield washer fluid inthe windshield washer fluid reservoir 68 one pushes on the bottomportion 70 of the front grille emblem 58 located below the pivot pins 56(note action arrow D in FIG. 3C) causing the top of the fluid receiver55 to pivot forward. As the top of the fluid receiver 55 clears theabutment 70 the coil spring 72 biases the fluid receiver cap 74 into theopen position allowing one to then fill the fluid receiver 55 withwasher fluid. That washer fluid then passes from the receiver 55 throughthe line 75 to the fluid reservoir 68. When filled, the operator pusheson the upper portion 76 of the emblem 58 above the pivot pins 56 (noteaction arrow E in FIG. 3C) to return the apparatus 10 from thewindshield washer fluid fill position illustrated in FIG. 3C to theemblem display position illustrated in FIG. 3A. As this is done, theabutment 70 engages the top of the cap 74 thereby returning the cap intoa closed position with the seal 78 sealing the windshield washer fluidreceiver 55.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A-4C illustrating yet another embodimentof the apparatus 10. In this embodiment the windshield washer fluidreceiver 80 again includes opposed pivot pins 82 just as illustrated inthe previous embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3C. Further, a hood release actuator84 is again fixed to the fluid receiver 80 and the front face againforms a front grille emblem 86. Thus, the apparatus 10 illustrated inFIGS. 4A-4C is utilized to release the secondary hood latch 66 in thesame manner as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B (note FIGS. 4A and 4B).

In contrast to the embodiment of the apparatus 10 illustrated in FIGS.3A-3C, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C does not include thecap 74. Instead, the apparatus 10 in FIGS. 4A-4C includes a dischargeport 88 in the sidewall of the fluid receiver 80. When the apparatus 10is in the emblem display position illustrated in FIG. 4A, the sidewall90 of the fluid receiver 80 seals against a rubber boot 92 fixed to themotor vehicle behind the grille 94. As should be appreciated, thatrubber boot 92 is in communication with the hose or line 96 leading tothe windshield washer fluid reservoir 98.

In contrast, when the apparatus 10 is in the windshield washer fluidfill position illustrated in FIG. 4C, the discharge port 88 is alignedwith the lumen in the rubber boot 92 with the rubber boot engaging themargins of the fluid receiver 80 around the port. Thus, when windshieldwasher fluid is poured into the receiver 80, that fluid flows throughthe discharge port 88 into the rubber boot 92 and then through thehose/line 96 for delivery to the fluid reservoir 98. At the end of thefilling process, the apparatus 10 is then again returned to the emblemdisplay position illustrated in 4A so that the sidewall 90 of thereceiver 80 again seals against the rubber boot 92 thereby closing thesystem against evaporation.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A-5C illustrating still anotherembodiment of the apparatus 10. FIG. 5A shows that embodiment in theemblem display position. FIG. 5B shows that embodiment in the secondaryhood latch release position and FIG. 5C shows that embodiment in thewindshield washer fluid fill position.

In this embodiment, the windshield washer fluid receiver 100 ispivotally connected to the motor vehicle via opposed pivot pins 102provided at a bottom corner thereof. The hood release actuator 104 ispivotally connected to the top of the fluid receiver 100 by means of thepivot pin 106. The front face of the hood release actuator may againform a front grille emblem 108 if desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B one is able to release the secondary latch andopen the hood 12 by pivoting the hood release actuator 104 about thepivot pins 106 in the direction of action arrow F. As illustrated, thatactuator 104 is connected to the secondary hood latch 110 by means ofthe cable 112. When the hood 12 is subsequently closed, the apparatus 10returns to the emblem display position illustrated in FIG. 5A.

In contrast, when one wishes to fill the windshield washer fluidreservoir 114, one tips the windshield washer fluid receiver 100 forward(note action arrow G in FIG. 5C) about the pivot pins 102. As the cap116 clears the abutment 118, the coil spring 120 opens the cap allowingone to pour windshield washer fluid into the receiver 100. That fluidthen flows through the line 122 filling the windshield washer fluidreservoir 114. When filled, one pushes on the front of the emblem 108 toreturn the apparatus 10 to the emblem display position illustrated onFIG. 5A.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6A-6C illustrating still anotherembodiment of the apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the windshieldwasher fluid receiver 124 and the secondary hood latch actuator 126 areboth pivotally connected to the motor vehicle. The front face 128 of thewindshield washer fluid receiver 124 forms an inner portion of the frontgrille emblem 130 while the front face of the hood latch actuator 126forms an outer, perimeter portion of the emblem. FIG. 6A shows theapparatus of this embodiment in the emblem display position. FIG. 6Billustrates the secondary hood latch actuator 126 in the hood releaseposition. FIG. 6C illustrates the apparatus 10 of this embodiment in thewindshield washer fluid fill position. After filling one may push on thereceiver 124 to pivot it back into the emblem display positionillustrated in FIG. 6A.

The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theembodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claimswhen interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they arefairly, legally and equitably entitled.

What is claimed:
 1. A front grille emblem for a motor vehicle,comprising: an integral hood latch release and windshield washer fluidreceiver.
 2. The front grille emblem of claim 1 displaceable between adisplay position, a hood latch release position and a windshield washerfluid fill position.
 3. An apparatus for releasing a hood and filling awindshield washer fluid reservoir of a motor vehicle, comprising: anintegral hood release actuator and a windshield washer fluid receiver.4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including a front grille emblem. 5.The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said hood release actuator is pivotallyconnected to said windshield washer fluid receiver.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 5, further including a cap pivotally connected to said windshieldwasher fluid receiver and displaceable between an opened position and aclosed position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including a springbiasing said cap into said opened position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said apparatus is displaceable between a front grille emblemdisplay position, a hood latch release position and a windshield washerfluid fill position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including anabutment for engaging and holding said cap in said closed position whensaid apparatus is in said front grille emblem display position.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein said windshield washer fluid receiver ispivotally connected to said motor vehicle.
 11. The apparatus of claim10, further including a cap pivotally connected to said windshieldwasher fluid receiver and displaceable between an opened position and aclosed position.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including aspring biasing said cap into said opened position.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein said apparatus is displaceable between a front grilleemblem display position, a hood latch release position and a windshieldwasher fluid fill position.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, furtherincluding an abutment for engaging and holding said cap in said closedposition when said apparatus is in said front grille emblem displayposition.
 15. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said windshield washerfluid receiver is pivotally connected to said motor vehicle and saidhood release actuator is pivotally connected to said windshield washerfluid receiver.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a cappivotally connected to said windshield washer fluid receiver anddisplaceable between an opened position and a closed position.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, further including a spring biasing said cap intosaid opened position.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein saidapparatus is displaceable between a front grille emblem displayposition, a hood latch release position and a windshield washer fluidfill position.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, further including anabutment for engaging and holding said cap in said closed position whensaid apparatus is in said front grille emblem display position.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein said windshield washer fluid receiver formsan inner portion of said front grille emblem and said hood releaseactuator forms a perimeter portion of said front grille emblem.